A drunken motorist has been fined and banned from driving after he stood on top of his car – and battered a speed camera with a hammer.

Daniel Paul Waller, 32, randomly attacked the safety camera in a drunken stupor in a ‘mindless’ act of vandalism, a court heard.

Magistrates were told how Waller damaged the lens of the camera in Butts Lane, Tattershall, Lincs., with a hammer as he stood on the roof of his Vauxhall Vectra car.

Waller pleaded guilty to damaging the camera and was fined £110 when he appeared at Skegness Magistrates Court last Friday.

He also admitted driving his car while over the permitted alcohol level.

Waller was caught with 85 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath – two-and-a-half times the permitted limit of 35mcg.

He was fined £110 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Magistrates offered the chance for Waller to reduce the ban by four months, provided he completes a rehabilitation course.

He had initially pleaded not guilty to both offences at an earlier hearing but changed his plea on the first day of his trial.

The speed camera on Butts Lane in Lincolnshire that Weller hit with a hammer while standing on the roof of his car

Waller, from Horncastle, Lincs., was also ordered to pay £200 costs, compensation of £40 and a £15 victim surcharge.

After the case John Siddle, from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said: “Regardless of what people might think about cameras, the intention is to slow drivers down in a location where there is clear evidence of excessive speeding – and a very real danger to people.

“Damaging a camera directly outside a school is a clear and mindless act of vandalism – whatever the reason.”

Mr Siddle said the camera was “not seriously” damaged and was operating again within 24 hours.

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